Leroy Bucklin Died After Crash Friday-Three Others Injured in Auto Accident Near Bennington-A Blair Lifeguard

The community was deeply shocked and saddened as the news of the death of Leroy Bucklin, 21-year-old life guard at the municipal swimming pool, reached Blair late Friday evening. He had been critically injured in an automobile crash which occurred near Bennington, Nebraska, at 2 o’clock that morning. Bucklin apparently dozed at the wheel while coming from a dance at Arlington, accompanied by Victor Payne, 19, also a life guard at the Blair swimming pool, and Sophia Petersen, 19, and her sister Ruby, 17, telephone operators at Bennington. The car went off the road and crashed; Payne and Sophia Petersen walked two miles to Bennington for aid, notifying L. D. Tandy, manager of the Bennington telephone exchange, who with Enno Mueller took the injured to Omaha Lutheran Hospital. Bucklin suffered a crushed chest, right shoulder and arm, and severe head injuries; he died late that evening after several transfusions earlier in the day had proved ineffectual. Payne sustained scalp lacerations and a brain concussion, and although for a time it was feared that he would lose the use of one eye, was able to return to Blair Saturday. The girls, daughters of John Petersen of Bennington, were treated for minor cuts and bruises and taken home.

Everyone liked and respected young “Buck”. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Bucklin, he was born in Blair July 18, 1918, and had always made his home here. He loved sports, carrying a fine, clean mind in a clean, vigorous body. During his high school career he had been a star athlete, and was outstanding in football and basketball. He won ten athletic letters, was a member of the school’s governing body, the “13” Club, was a debater, ping pong champion, and a member of the National Honorary Society, a scholastic organization. Following his graduation in 1936 he has been employed at Sas Store and the Arndt Hardware, and this summer secured a position as life guard at the swimming pool. He was a confirmed member of St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church and a member of the choir.

He is survived by his parents, one sister, Joyce, and three brothers, Rolland, Paul and Leslie, Jr.

Services were held at nine o’clock Monday morning from the Catholic Church with Father Thomas Carmody in charge. Interment was made in the Blair Catholic Cemetery.

We all join in attempting to express to his bereaved family the sincere regret felt at the passing of this fine young man.

Find a Grave Memorial # 129471570

~~~Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file at the Blair Public Library.~~~